Tree honors life of Kennebunk student Jacob Gould

KENNEBUNK — On what would have been Jacob Gould's 17th birthday, his peers, teachers and family members gathered at a special spot for the late teen — the end zone of the Kennebunk High School football field.

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By Jennifer Feals

seacoastonline.com

By Jennifer Feals

Posted May. 13, 2014 at 12:04 PM
Updated May 13, 2014 at 12:11 PM

By Jennifer Feals

Posted May. 13, 2014 at 12:04 PM
Updated May 13, 2014 at 12:11 PM

» Social News

KENNEBUNK — On what would have been Jacob Gould's 17th birthday, his peers, teachers and family members gathered at a special spot for the late teen — the end zone of the Kennebunk High School football field.

A dwarf pine tree was planted in an area near the field in honor of Gould, who died earlier this year. Gould had Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

“It's going to be there for us to think about Jacob,” said Andy Young, Gould's adviser and English teacher at KHS.

A huge sports fan, Goule was one to lightheartedly rag on friends and faculty at KHS whether it was about his favorite team the New England Patriots beating a competitor, or the Kennebunk High School football team playing in the state finals.

“He would come into advisory every day with a smile on his face, or a wise remark about how his sports team did the night before,” said Senior Ben Bath. “He was one of Kennebunk High School football's biggest fans. He loved to tease people but you always knew it was in good fun.”

While Gould's parents said he sometimes felt invisible, his personality and smile were well-known and loved at KHS.

“He was just a normal kid here at Kennebunk High School,” Bath said. “He was very proud to be a part of Kennebunk High School and we are proud to have been a part of his life.”

Gould's mom, Kim, said while she and her husband Mike could see the impact their son had at KHS, she hopes he could have realized it himself.

“There wasn't one person Jacob didn't know. No one was a stranger to Jacob,” Kim Gould said. “I just wish he knew the impact he really had. I really don't think he knew the impact he had on these kids and adults.

While changes to the KHS athletic fields may happen if and when voters approve renovations to at KHS, Young said the tree, courtesy of Snug Harbor Farm, will move as necessary so it is always located in its intended spot.

“If I need inspiration I'm going to think of that guy and the smile he had on his face,” Young said. “We all could say a lot of things about Jacob and why he was inspirational and why he made us feel good. He treated everybody the same. He had a smile for everybody and he treated them all the same.”